Device for frosting drinking glasses

ABSTRACT

A device for frosting drinking glasses including a valve adapted to be connected to a supply of fluid refrigerant and an actuating means for opening the valve. The actuating means includes a movable platform on which a glass to be forsted is adapted to be placed. The platform is moved by pushing the glass thereagainst to thereby open the valve so that refrigerant flows into the glass.

[ June 13, 1972 United States Patent Roslonski Morris.................

[54] DEVICE FOR FROSTING DRINKING GLASSES [72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

' [22] Filed:

Taylor Donald J. Roslonski, Pennsauken, NJ.

Frost-A-Glass Corporation, Trenton, NJ.

March 10, 1970 Primary E.raminerMeyer Perlin Assistant Examiner-RonaldC. Capossela Attorney-Birch, Swindler, McKie & Beckett [21]- App1.No.:

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includes a movable platform on which a glass to be forsted is ReferencesCited adapted to be placed. The platform is moved by pushing the glassthereagainst to thereby open the valve so that refrigerant flows intothe glass.

UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,747,598 2/1938 Popp.........................25l/DIG.4 2,749,715 6/1956Tice..0.......................................62/629C1aims,lDrawingFigure PATENTEDJUH 1 3 I972 3.668 888 INVENTOR DONALD J.ROSLONSKi BY ATTORNEYS DEVICE FOR FROSTING DRINKING GLASSES BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates todevices for frosting drinking glasses, and Specifically, to a device forfrosting drinking glasses by chilling the Surfaces thereof with fluidrefrigerant.

2. Description of the Prior Art Several devices are known for frostingdrinking glasses by chilling the surfaces thereof with fluidrefrigerant, such as compressed carbon-dioxide gas. Generally, suchdevices include one or more valves which are connected to a supply ofrefrigerant and which may be selectively opened to permit therefrigerant to flow into a glass to be frosted. A device of this type isshown in Tice US. Pat. No. 2,587,075. Such devices are relatively easyto operate and are relatively inexpensive to manufacture. However, theprior art frosting devices malfunction frequently because the elementsof the valves tend to freeze together. Moreover, such devices applyrefrigerant against the inner surface of a glass only so that the entirethickness of the glass must be chilled before frost will form on boththe inner and outer surfaces thereof. Thus, while the prior art frostingdevices for drinking glasses are relatively easy to operate and arerelatively economical, the reliability and efficiency of such devicesare less than optimum.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The glass frosting device of the presentinvention embodies the ease of operation and relatively low costadvantages of the prior art devices, and in addition is both reliableand efficient.

Basically described, the device of the invention comprises; a base; avalve mounted on the base, said valve including a valve body affixed tothe base and having a passageway therethrough, a valve pin extendinginto the passageway from one end thereof and being movable axiallythereof, a sealing means disposed within the passageway for hermeticallysealing the passageway around the pin adjacent said one passageway end,a seating means disposed within said passageway and defining a seat forthe pin adjacent the other end of the passageway to hermetically sealthe passageway around the pin adjacent said other passageway end whenthe pin is seated thereagainst, and a biasing means connected to the pinfor urging the pin against the seat so that the valve is normallyclosed; means connected to the valve body for supplying fluidrefrigerant to the passageway intermediate the sealing means and seat;and an actuating means for unseating the pin from the seat against theurging of the biasing means to thereby open thevalve, said actuatingmeans including a platform defining a surface adapted to be contacted bya glass to be frosted, said platform being positioned over the body andhaving an aperture therethrough aligned with said other passageway end,said platform also being connected to the pin and being movable withrespect to the valve body in the direction of unseating the pin from theseat so that when the open end of a glass is placed on said platformsurface and the glass is pushed against the platform, the platform ismoved in the direction of unseating the pin, to permit refrigerant toflow out of the passageway through said other end thereof and throughsaid platform aperture into the glass, whereby the glass becomessufficiently chilled to cause ambient water vapor to condense and freezethereon.

Conveniently, the fluid refrigerant is compressed carbondioxide which isreadily available at relatively low cost.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention toprovide an improved device for frosting drinking glasses.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device as describedin the preceding object which is reliable and efficient.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent upon aconsideration of the following detailed descrip tion of a preferredembodiment thereof given in connection with the following drawings,wherein like reference numerals identify like elements throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single FIGURE is a verticalsectional view of the device of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The glass frosting device of theinvention as shown in the drawing is designated by reference numeral 10.Device 10 includes a base 12 having a hollow, substantially cup-shapedinterior and a circular peripheral flange 14. Base 12 is adapted to beplaced on a table or counter and supported by flange 14. Disposedcentrally of base 12 is a collar 16.

Device 10 also includes a valve 18 having asubstantially cylindricallyshaped valve body 20. The lower end of body 20 is disposed within andaffixed to collar 16. An axially extending passageway 22 extends throughbody 20 from the upper end to the medial portion thereof, and an axiallyextending recess 24 extends from the medial portion of the body to thelower end thereof. As shown in the drawing, the lower end of passageway22 communicates with the upper end of recess 24. A valve pin 26 extendsfrom recess 24 into passageway 22 through the lower end of thepassageway. Passageway 22 is hermetically sealed about pin 26 by a pairof resilient O-rings 28 disposed adjacent the upper and lower ends ofthe passageway. The upper end of passageway 22 is defined by a nozzle 30which is connected to the upper end of body 20 and which defines at thelower end thereof a seat 31 for the upper end of pin 26. Seat 31hermetically seals the upper end of passageway 32 around pin 26 when thepin is seated thereagainst, as shown in the drawing.

Valve 18 also includes a biasing means for urging pin 26 against seat 31so that the valve is normally closed. The biasing means includes a plug22 removably mounted in the lower end of recess 24, a collar 34 disposedin the upper portion of recess 24 and movable axially thereof, and acompression spring 36 interposed between plug 32 and collar 34. Thelower end of pin 26 is secured to collar 34 so that spring 36 urges theupper end of the pin against seat 31. As shown in the drawing, when pin26 is seated against seat 31, collar 34 is spaced slightly below thelower end of passageway 22 so that the pin is positively held againstthe seat by spring 36. A stop member 38 is affixed to the upper surfaceof plug 32 to limit the downward movement of collar 34 and therefore ofpin 26. Stop 38 is of sufficient length to prevent the upper end of pin26 from moving below the O-ring 28 disposed adjacent the lower end ofpassageway 22 so that lower end of the passageway remains sealed aboutthe pin at all times.

One end of a conduit 40 is connected to valve body 20 and communicateswith a port 41 in the body which opens into passageway 22 intermediateO-rings 28. The other end of conduit 40 is adapted to be connected to asupply of fluid refrigerant, such as tank of compressed carbon-dioxide.Thus, when pin 26 is unseated from seat 31, refrigerant flows upwardlythrough passageway 22 and out of the passageway through the upper endthereof.

Device 10 also includes a means for actuating valve 18. Such meanscomprises a platform 46 which is mounted within base 12 over valve 18.The upper surface of platform 46 is adapted to be contacted by the openend of a glass to be frosted, such as a drinking glass 48. Platform 46has an aperture 50 therethrough which is aligned with the upper end ofpassageway 22. Thus, when valve 18 is opened refrigerant flows upwardlyout of passageway 22 and through aperture 50 into glass 48. The lowerportion of platform 46 is substantially frusto-conically shaped and hasa cylindrical bore 52 therein. The upper portion of valve body 20 isreceived within bore 52, and platform 46 is movable axially of the body.The lower end of platform 46 is defined by a circular flange 53 having aplurality of axially extending slots 54 therein.

Platform 46 is connected to pin 26 by a plurality of arms 42 only one ofwhich is shown in the drawing) which are secured to collar 34. Arms 42extend radially outwardly from collar 34 through a correspondingplurality of openings 44 in the side of body 20 which extend axially ofthe body and communicate with recess 24. Arms 42 are engaged by slots 54in the lower end of platfonn 46 so that the platform is supported by thearms. Thus, by pushing glass 48 against platform 46, arms 42 and collar34 are moved downwardly to thereby unseat pin 26 from seat 31 and openvalve 18.

Device further includes a shroud 56 which is mounted on base 12 andsurrounds platform 46. Shroud 56 has an opening in the upper end thereofopposite platform 46 so that glasses may be placed on and removed fromthe upper surface of the platform. A plurality of concave recesses 58formed in the upper surface of platform 46 in proximity to aperture 50cooperate with shroud 56 to circulate and retain refrigerant in theenvironment immediately surrounding glass 48. Thus, after therefrigerant flows into the glass from the upper end of passageway 22, itflows out of the glass through recesses 58 and is retained in theenvironment immediately surrounding the glass by shroud 56. The upperlip of the shroud is curved inwardly to promote circulation of therefrigerant against the outer surface of the glass. Platform 46 has oneor more ports 60 therein and base 12 has one or more ports 62 thereinfor the egress of refrigerant from the device after the refrigerant hasbecome heated by absorbing heat from glass 48 and the ambient air in theenvironment immediately surrounding the glass.

The operation of device 10 will be apparent from the foregoingdescription. A glass 48 to be frosted is placed on the upper surface ofplatform 46 and pushed against the platform. Downward movement of theplatform opens valve 18 as described above so that refrigerant flowsinto the glass from the upper end of passageway 22 and then throughrecesses 58 into the environment immediately surrounding the glass. inthis manner both the inner and outer surfaces of the glass are chilledat the same time. Thus, it is not necessary for the entire thickness ofthe glass to become chilled before frost is formed on the outer surfacethereof. The ambient water vapor in the air condenses and freezes onboth the inner and outer surfaces of the glass very quickly so thatefficient use is made of the refrigerant. Also, the positive manner inwhich pin 26 is seated and unseated prevents the elements of valve 18from freezing together resulting in reliable operation of the valve foran indefinite period of time.

While the foregoing constitutes a detailed description of the preferredembodiment of the invention it is recognized that various modificationsthereof will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope ofthe invention is to be limited solely by the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A device for frosting a drinking glass comprising:

a base;

a valve mounted on said base, said valve including a valve body affixedto said base and having a passageway therethrough, a valve pin extendinginto said passageway from one end thereof and being movable axiallythereof, a sealing means disposed within said passageway forhermetically sealing the passageway around said pin adjacent said onepassageway end, a seating means disposed within said passageway anddefining a seat for said pin adjacent the other end of the passageway tohennetically seal the passageway around the pin adjacent said otherpassageway end when the pin is seated thereagainst, and a biasing meansconnected to said pin for urging the pin against said seat so that thevalve is normally closed;

means connected to said valve body for supplying fluid refrigerant tosaid passageway intermediate said sealing means and seat;

an actuating means for unseating the pin from said seat against theurging of said biasing means to thereby open the valve, said actuatingmeans including a platform defining a surface adapted to be contacted bya glass to be frosted, said platform being positioned over said valvebody and having an aperture therethrough aligned with said otherpassageway end, said platform also being connected to said pin and beingmovable with respect to said body in the direction of unseatmg the pinso that when the open end of a glass is placed on said platform surfaceand the glass is pushed against the platform, the platform is moved inthe direction of unseating the pin to permit refrigerant to flow out ofthe passageway through said other end thereof and through said platformaperture into the glass, whereby the glass becomes sufficiently chilledto cause ambient water vapor to condense and freeze thereon;

means on said platform surface for permitting refrigerant to flow out ofthe glass into the environment immediately surrounding the glass so thatafter refrigerant flows into the glass it flows into said environment tothereby chill both the inner and outer surfaces of the glass; and

a shroud surrounding said platform for retaining refrigerant in saidenvironment and having an opening therein opposite said platform throughwhich a glass may be placed on and removed from said platform surface.

2. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said flow permitting meanscomprises at least one concave recess in said platform surface inproximity to said platform aperture.

3. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein said shroud is mounted onsaid base.

4. A device as recited in claim 1; wherein said valve body issubstantially cylindrically shaped and said passageway extends axiallytherethrough with said other passageway end disposed at one end of saidvalve body and said one passageway end disposed at the medial portion ofsaid valve body; and wherein said valve body has an axially extendingrecess therein communicating with said passageway and extending fromsaid one passageway end to the other end of said valve body; and whereinsaid biasing means is disposed in said valve body recess.

5. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein said biasing means includes aplug removably mounted in said valve body recess at said other valvebody end a collar disposed in said valve body recess and being movableaxially thereof said collar being affixed to said valve pin, and acompression spring interposed between said plug and said collar forurging said collar toward said one valve body end to thereby urge saidpin against said seat.

6. A device as recited in claim 5; wherein said valve body has at leastone axially extending opening in the side thereof communicating withsaid valve body recess; and wherein said actuating means furtherincludes an arm secured to said collar, extending through said valvebody opening and connected to said platform.

7. A device as recited in claim 4; wherein the portion of said platformopposite said platform surface is substantially frustoconically shapedand has a cylindrical bore therein; and wherein a portion of said valvebody is disposed within said platform bore.

8. A device as recited in claim 1; wherein said base has a hollow,substantially cup-shaped interior; and wherein said valve and platformare disposed in said base interior.

9. A device as recited in claim 8, wherein each of said platform andsaid base have at least one port therein for the egress of refrigerantfrom the device.

1. A device for frosting a drInking glass comprising: a base; a valvemounted on said base, said valve including a valve body affixed to saidbase and having a passageway therethrough, a valve pin extending intosaid passageway from one end thereof and being movable axially thereof,a sealing means disposed within said passageway for hermetically sealingthe passageway around said pin adjacent said one passageway end, aseating means disposed within said passageway and defining a seat forsaid pin adjacent the other end of the passageway to hermetically sealthe passageway around the pin adjacent said other passageway end whenthe pin is seated thereagainst, and a biasing means connected to saidpin for urging the pin against said seat so that the valve is normallyclosed; means connected to said valve body for supplying fluidrefrigerant to said passageway intermediate said sealing means and seat;an actuating means for unseating the pin from said seat against theurging of said biasing means to thereby open the valve, said actuatingmeans including a platform defining a surface adapted to be contacted bya glass to be frosted, said platform being positioned over said valvebody and having an aperture therethrough aligned with said otherpassageway end, said platform also being connected to said pin and beingmovable with respect to said body in the direction of unseating the pinso that when the open end of a glass is placed on said platform surfaceand the glass is pushed against the platform, the platform is moved inthe direction of unseating the pin to permit refrigerant to flow out ofthe passageway through said other end thereof and through said platformaperture into the glass, whereby the glass becomes sufficiently chilledto cause ambient water vapor to condense and freeze thereon; means onsaid platform surface for permitting refrigerant to flow out of theglass into the environment immediately surrounding the glass so thatafter refrigerant flows into the glass it flows into said environment tothereby chill both the inner and outer surfaces of the glass; and ashroud surrounding said platform for retaining refrigerant in saidenvironment and having an opening therein opposite said platform throughwhich a glass may be placed on and removed from said platform surface.2. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said flow permitting meanscomprises at least one concave recess in said platform surface inproximity to said platform aperture.
 3. A device as recited in claim 2,wherein said shroud is mounted on said base.
 4. A device as recited inclaim 1; wherein said valve body is substantially cylindrically shapedand said passageway extends axially therethrough with said otherpassageway end disposed at one end of said valve body and said onepassageway end disposed at the medial portion of said valve body; andwherein said valve body has an axially extending recess thereincommunicating with said passageway and extending from said onepassageway end to the other end of said valve body; and wherein saidbiasing means is disposed in said valve body recess.
 5. A device asrecited in claim 4, wherein said biasing means includes a plug removablymounted in said valve body recess at said other valve body end, a collardisposed in said valve body recess and being movable axially thereof,said collar being affixed to said valve pin, and a compression springinterposed between said plug and said collar for urging said collartoward said one valve body end to thereby urge said pin against saidseat.
 6. A device as recited in claim 5; wherein said valve body has atleast one axially extending opening in the side thereof communicatingwith said valve body recess; and wherein said actuating means furtherincludes an arm secured to said collar, extending through said valvebody opening and connected to said platform.
 7. A device as recited inclaim 4; wherein the portion of said platform opposite said platformsurface is substantially frusto-conically Shaped and has a cylindricalbore therein; and wherein a portion of said valve body is disposedwithin said platform bore.
 8. A device as recited in claim 1; whereinsaid base has a hollow, substantially cup-shaped interior; and whereinsaid valve and platform are disposed in said base interior.
 9. A deviceas recited in claim 8, wherein each of said platform and said base haveat least one port therein for the egress of refrigerant from the device.